Display card container



APFEH 11936. A, H. GALBRAITH DISPLAY CARD CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed June 7 1934 NEY.

April 21, v A H GALBRAlTH DI SPLAY CARD CONTAINER Filed June '7, 19:54 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. 4ft 6. Gab/"022k:

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr, 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY CARD CONTAINER Application June 7, 1934, Serial No. 729,389

9 Claims.

This invention relates to display-card containers, adapted to contain one or more display cards or price signs, such for example as are commonly used in displaying retail gasoline prices at service stations, garages and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved form of construction for containers of the class described.

A second object of my present invention is to provide an improved container of the class described, wherein provision is made for receiving and separating cards of various sizes.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved container of the class described, wherein novel means for protecting and illuminating the contents, and for mounting and supporting the container are provided.

My invention has for further objects such additional advantages in constructional detail and utility as may hereinafter be found to obtain.

In order that my invention may clearly be set forth and understood, I now describe, with reference to the accompanying drawings, various preferred forms in which it may be embodied, but without limiting my invention to the specific details of the various illustrative examples except as set forth in the claims hereinafter made. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of a price-card container constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating a supporting member therefore;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container illustrated in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line IIL-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1; E

Fig. 5 is an end-elevational view of a portion of the container shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the supporting member illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side-elevational view of a portion of an alternative form of container;

Fig. 8 is a perspectiveview of a form of supporting member adapted to be used with the form of container illustrated in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a removable partition adapted to be used in conjunction with the container shown in the preceding figures;

Figs. 10 and 11 are sideand end-elevational views, respectively, of an alternate form of container provided with means for illuminating the contents; and

Fig. 12 is an' elevational View of a gasoline dispensing pump provided with a price-card container in accordance with my invention.

Similar reference numerals designate similar parts in each of the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, there is shown a display-card container of generally rectangular outline, having end walls I and 2 and a bottom member 3. The end walls I and 2 are provided exteriorly with flanges 4 and 5, respectively, and the bottom member 3 is exteriorly provided with flanges 6, while the upper ends of the end walls I and 2 are joined by strips 1. Each group of flanges 4, 5 and 6 and strips 1 thus forms an open side wall adapted to retain the contents of the container while aifording a full view of the same.

The end walls I and 2 are provided with vertically disposed fins or strips 8 corresponding to and inwardly spaced from the flanges 4 and 5, preferably extending the full height of the end walls I and 2, and adapted to hold flat windows or panes 9 of glass when the latter are inserted in the container between the fins 8 and the flanges 4 and 5. Similar fins or strips H] are preferably provided on the bottom member 3, as shown.

For the purpose of providing drainage of water produced by condensation of atmospheric moisture, I provide the bottom member 3 with drainage holes I 2. I prefer to locate these between the fins l0 and the strips 6, immediately below and vertically aligned with the glass panes 9, in order that such moisture is kept away from the contents of the container as much as possible.

The container is provided with a cover l3 having downwardly extending flange walls l4, and which is hinged at IE to the end wall I, so that the free end may be raised in order to discover the contents of the container. A suitable latch (not shown) or look may be provided to keep the cover IS in the closed position.

In the instance illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, I have shown the end wall I as provided with two outwardly extending female members IE5 adapted to receive a vertical element I! forming part of a generally L-shaped supporting clamp l8, which may be more or less permanently attached to any convenient member l9, and is accordingly shaped. The clamp [8, in the position shown in Fig. 1, thus supports the container, but the latter may readily be removed from the clamp l8 by simply raising it vertically, whenever it is desired to do so. Normally, such containers are placed in an elevated position at or above eye level, and this feature is one of great convenience to the user.

A modified form of support is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, wherein the end member I is provided with one or more, preferably two, outwardly extending lugs 2| having heads 22. In this instance, the vertical element ll of the clamp I8 is provided with keyhole slots 23 adapted to receive the lugs 2|.

While, as described hereinabove, the container of my invention is adapted to receive exhibits or display cards extending the full length of the same, in many instances, especially when the container is used for exhibiting retail gasoline prices, it is desirable to employ separate sets of display cards for different purposes in the same container.

For this purpose, I provide one or more flat separators 25, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 9. Each separator 25 is provided with overhanging shoulders 26 and an extension 21, adapted to be received into notches 28 in the strips 1 and recesses or "slots 29 in the bottom member 3, respectively.

When thus inserted, the separators 25, as'shown in Figs. 1 and 4, are located transversely of the container and divide the interior of the container into a desired number of compartments adapted to receive separate sets of display cards 30 or other exhibits. Any desired number of such separators may be provided, although oneis usually sufficient, and any desired number of notches 28 and recesses 29 may be provided at selected points to receive and hold the separators 25.

In the instance illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, a display-card container generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is provided with novel means for supporting the same and with means for illuminating the contents and; if desired, for displaying an illuminated trade mark or a legend in conjunction with the contents of the container. In this instance the container is provided with a supporting member 32 which is fastened in any convenient manner to the bottom member 3, and which terminates at its lower end in a circular or annular portion 33 adapted to rest upon the flat top of any convenient object, but more particularly a gasoline dispensing pump 34. Such pumps are frequently provided with an annular ring member 35 originally adapted to receive an illuminating globe or similar device but which may readily receive the member 33.' Set screws 36 may be provided as desired for retaining the member 33 in position once it has been applied to the top of the pump 34.

In order to provide for illumination of the contents of the container, in the instance illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, I provide "the cover IS with a hood adapted to extend outwardly over the display sides of the container and adapted to enclose one or more suitably wired sockets 4| and incandescent bulbs 42. The latter are located in such manner, as is illustrated in Fig. 11, as to overhang the display sides of the container and to illuminate the same. The sides of the hood 40 adjacent the bulbs 42 may conveniently be provided with transparent panels 43 which may bear a suitable advertising or other legend.

While the hood 40 may be variously attached to the cover l3, in most instances, being of relatively light construction, it may simply be so designed as to fit down over the cover I3 and to be attached thereto by a friction fit. It will be obvious, however, that fastening means may be provided whenever desired, or the hood 40 and cover l3 may be made in one piece. In any event, my device is preferably so constituted and arranged that the hood 40, except for cleaning or replacement of the bulbs 42, remains an integral unit with the cover 13 and may be lifted with the latter whenever it is desired to discover the contents of the container, as for example when changing the cards or exhibits within the latter.

While I have illustrated a preferred form of the separators 25, and preferred means for securing the same in position, the separators may, if so desired, be made of simple rectangular outline, and may be held in place by friction with the contiguous portions of the container. instance transverse grooves (not shown) may be provided in the bottom member 3 to take the place of the slots 29 and to receive the lower ends of the separators 25.

Various modifications in detail will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it will be understood that my invention is not limited in its broader aspects to the various specific illustrative examplesgiven hereinabove but may variously be embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a frame of rectangular outline adapted to'contain one 'or more exhibit cards, having opposed open sides, two end members and a bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, said end and bottom members being provided with inwardly extending strips parallel to and spaced from the edges-of said open sides, and adapted-to separate said *cards from said windows.

' 2. In 'a device of the character described; a frame of rectangular outline adapted to contain one or more exhibit cards, having'opposed open sides, two end' members and a bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, said end and bottom members being providedwith strips parallel to and'spaced from the edges of said open sides, and adapted to separate said cards from said windows and said bottom member being provided with drainage openings between said strips and said sides.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame of rectangular outline adapted to contain one or more exhibit cards, having opposed open sides, two end members and a bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, and a flat separating member removably located laterally within said frame and adapted to engagethe frame in a predetermined position to divide the interior of said frame into a plurality of separate compartments.

4. In a device of the character described, a frame of rectangular outline adapted to contain one or more exhibit cards, having opposed open sides, two end members and a bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, a fiat separating member'having projections adapted to engage recessesin said frame and to be removably. positioned thereby laterally in said frame to subdivide the interior of said frame into separate compartments.

5. In a device of the character described, a frame of rectangular outline adapted to contain one or more exhibit cards, having opposed open sides, two end members and a bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, said frame being provided with aligned recesses, and a separating strip adapted to be inserted'in said frame to engage said recesses, thereby subdividing the interior of said frame into a plurality of compartments.

In this 6. In a device of the character described, a frame of rectangular outline adapted to contain one or more exhibit cards, having opposed sides, two end members and a bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, a cover for said frame overhanging the sides thereof and provided with illuminating means adapted to throw light upon the sides thereof.

7. In a device of the character described, a frame of rectangular outline adapted to contain one or more exhibit cards, having opposed open sides, two end members and a bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, a cover for said frame overhanging the sides thereof and provided with illuminating means adapted to throw light upon the sides thereof, said cover and illuminating means being pivotally attached to the top of said frame at one end thereof to permit access to the interior of the frame.

8. In a device of the character described, a frame of rectangular outline adapted to contain one or more exhibit cards, having opposed open sides, two end members anda bottom member, transparent windows associated with said open sides, a hinged cover for said frame, and a recessed member at one end of said frame adapted to detachably receive a fixed supporting memher.

9. In combination, a gasoline dispensing device, a relatively fiat display device mounted upon said dispensing device and a hood member located above said display device and provided with illuminating means overhanging the sides of said display device and adapted to illuminate the contents of said display device and the upper portions of said dispensing device.

ARCH H. GALBRAITH. 

